Volume 1, Chapter 47: Being Called an Illegitimate Son Is His Absolute Taboo

"What about the child? How can you have the heart to let her come into the world without a father's companionship?" Duan Yixiao remained silent for a long time before speaking again.

Jiang Yunmiao gently stroked her belly. "She has been around for more than eight months now. May I ask what you, as her father, have ever done for her?"

Duan Yixiao: "..."

Jiang Yunmiao: "So what if I give you another eight years? You still wouldn't know how to be a father."

Her tone was light and breezy, yet it felt like a carefully aimed hidden arrow that left its sheath before he could defend himself.

Duan Yixiao was momentarily at a loss for words. "I'm sorry, I truly don't know how to be a good father. I've never experienced..."

"You want to say you've never experienced paternal love, so you don't know how to express it, right? Duan Yixiao, such a clumsy excuse makes me ashamed for you."

Duan Yixiao: "..."

Jiang Yunmiao: "Feelings are feelings, and the child is the child. You don't need to use the child to hold me hostage. Duan Yixiao, let's end this here. I'm tired."

She produced another copy of the Divorce Agreement and placed it before him.

Duan Yixiao pressed his thin lips tightly together. He clenched his fists, a cold, murderous glint flashing in his eyes. "I will not sign this divorce agreement. Unless you... leave... with... nothing!"

Jiang Yunmiao was dumbfounded. If a brainless shrew like Zhou Manhua said such things, she could understand.

For Duan Yixiao to say it—it was truly despicable, utterly hateful, and completely shameless!

"Self-respect is a wonderful thing, I beg of you to have some! If you don't understand the law, go back and consult your lawyer before you speak. If you refuse to sign, I will file for divorce through the court. Given the fact that you committed adultery during my pregnancy, I have the right to request a larger share of the property."

"I did not commit adultery!" Duan Yixiao's face turned livid as he replied coldly.

Jiang Yunmiao waved a hand. "Whatever! If you want to blow this matter up, then let's blow it up. At least the one being talked about will be the Duan Corporation, and you, the illegitimate son."

"Jiang! Yun! Miao!" Duan Yixiao growled her name, syllable by syllable. His sharp jawline tightened icily, making him look like a wild beast that had lost its reason. His greatest taboo was being called an illegitimate son, and Jiang Yunmiao had stepped directly on his reverse scale.

"Then go ahead and file for a lawsuit and see if the judge grants the divorce!" He tore the Divorce Agreement to shreds, dropped a chilling remark, and strode out of the study.

*Bang*—he closed the door with such immense force that Jiang Yunmiao felt the entire house shake.

Looking at the scattered pieces of paper all over the floor, she frowned slightly.

Refusing to sign?

This outcome was well within her expectations.

Even if they divorced, Duan Yixiao would certainly want to achieve it at the minimal cost. He could never bear to part with half of his assets.

It seemed she would have to come up with another strategy.

Seeing Duan Yixiao storming downstairs, Zhou Manhua hurried over to probe, "How did it go? What did you two talk about? Has she relented?" She stealthily pointed an upward finger toward the upper floor.

Irritated, Duan Yixiao ignored her and headed straight for the front door.

Zhou Manhua asked, "It's so late, where are you going?"

Duan Yixiao replied, "Going out for some fresh air."

He stepped hard on the gas pedal and drove straight to a bar.

Fu Jingzhou happened to be on patrol duty in the bar district that evening, and Lu Shenshen was waiting nearby, ready to pick him up after his shift.

Thus, she happened to see Duan Yixiao storm into a bar with a murderous aura.

She hurriedly texted the news to Jiang Yunmiao: "Meow, I spotted your scumbag. He's gone bar-hopping."

Jiang Yunmiao pondered for a moment. "Hmm, is there any way to leak this news to your arch-nemesis?"

Lu Shenshen instantly perked up. "Looking to stir up trouble? No problem, I can let Chen Nianke know in a minute."

Jiang Yunmiao: "You're amazing! Thanks a lot!"

Lu Shenshen: "You're welcome! I just love being helpful!"

Three hours later, Duan Yixiao and Chen Nianke finally appeared on the surveillance footage of the Xifuyuan residence.

Both of them appeared quite drunk, stumbling as they collapsed onto the sofa.

Everything that followed progressed naturally. The two of them kissed.

The clothes on their bodies gradually decreased until, finally, they stood completely bare before each other.

She had originally thought she might find it hard to accept such a scene—after all, a person she had loved for over a decade had long since become a part of her life.

Yet when this moment truly arrived, she found herself surprisingly calm.

Instead, because the evidence was now indisputable, she felt a sense of relief.

Perhaps, throughout this lengthy relationship, the response she received had been far too meager.

The passion and impulsiveness of the past had gradually burned away, leaving Duan Yixiao an entirely dispensable presence.

She could take ten thousand steps forward out of love, and she could just as easily take ten thousand and one steps backward to leave.

So, she wished him and his white moonlight a smooth journey together—while she would take the car!

The next day, when Duan Yixiao woke up, the sky was just beginning to grow pale. Because of the hangover, he felt a dull, throbbing headache.

Suddenly, pressure was applied to his waist, followed by the warm, soft embrace of a woman pressing closely against him.

His body jolted, snapping him instantly awake.

Opening his eyes, he was shocked to discover that the person right in front of him was Chen Nianke.

Perhaps disturbed by his movement, Chen Nianke also woke up slowly, still looking drowsy and sleepy.

"You're awake?" Likely recalling their tenderness from the night before, she smiled at him shyly, naturally wrapping her arms around him and burying her entire body in his embrace.

Duan Yixiao stiffened all over. "Last night..." Fragmentary memories flashed intermittently through his mind—somewhat hazy, yet seeming to have truly happened.

His voice was slightly hoarse, which sounded exceptionally sexy to Chen Nianke's ears.

Chen Nianke raised her head slightly and planted a light kiss on his stubbly chin. "You almost drove me to pieces last night."

Duan Yixiao frowned. "I'm sorry, I drank too much." Subconsciously, he pushed her away.

Chen Nianke instantly caught the strange undertone in his words. She pulled the quilt up and sat straight up. "What do you mean? Do you regret it?" She gazed down at him from above, her plain-faced, somewhat pale features filled with dissatisfaction.

Duan Yixiao massaged his temples in distress and slowly sat up. "I... don't mean that. It's just that... Jiang Yunmiao is currently making a fuss about divorcing me. If people find out about us last night... it will be very unfavorable for me."

Chen Nianke's eyes rolled as a cunning gleam flashed across them. Of course she knew that Duan Yixiao and Jiang Yunmiao had put divorce on the agenda, and she also knew that Duan Yixiao hadn't fully made up his mind yet.

That was precisely why she had given him a gentle push last night.

"If I don't say anything, and you don't say anything, how would she ever know? Besides, even if she finds out, so what? You can fabricate charges against her. When it comes to infidelity, any accusation will do if you are determined to find a pretext."

With a vicious mind, Chen Nianke concocted a strategy for him. Although she was the one who most wanted Jiang Yunmiao and Duan Yixiao to divorce, she certainly didn't want Jiang Yunmiao to walk away with a share of Duan Yixiao's assets. She wanted to hold onto every last bit she could.